Wilburn named Burlsworth Trophy nominee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Texas Tech senior offensive lineman Dennis Wilburn was named on Tuesday as one of 73 nominees for the 14th annual Burlsworth Trophy, announced by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. The annual award is given to college football’s most outstanding player, who began his career as a walk-on.
Wilburn, a sixth-year senior in his second season with the Red Raiders, joined the program as a walk-on prior to the 2022 season after splitting time between Texas A&M Kingsville and Hutchinson Junior College in Kansas during his first four years out of high school. Despite being a walk-on, Wilburn proved he was ready and earned the Red Raiders’ starting center spot heading into game one of the 2022 season and started all 13 games his first season as a Red Raider. He was rewarded with a scholarship shortly after the team returned from its Texas Bowl win over Ole Miss.
Wilburn, a Big 12 honorable mention selection and JUCO All-American, has been a steady presence for Texas Tech on the offensive line having started all 20 games he’s been available for during his Red Raiders career. He’s started seven of eight games at right guard in 2023.
This past August, Wilburn earned a bachelor’s degree, becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree, and is now seeking a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
For the full list of nominees and additional information, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.
The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2023 winner on Dec. 4th at 7 p.m. CT at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
About the Burlsworth Trophy
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with an FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.
The Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER”, which was released in 2016. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
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Release provided by MATT BURKHOLDER Texas Tech Athletics
